[nilanjanray]

If you share your budget, whether you prefer luxury vs. wilderness, whether you want room service, what you and your kids would like to do etc. then I can give specific recommendations. I visit those jungles pretty often. Note that it will be raining now, so staying in a cottage far away from the dining area and walking there with a kid could be tough. No need to worry about insects.

Then I suggest you usend Google or Tripadvisor for further validation.

Fyi, I had taken my 5 month daughter to Jungle Retreat during the rains. If I knew what I know now, I would have chosen a different place where they allow room service and where the rooms are closer to the dining area.

[Ice]

I'm planning to leave Coimbatore around 8 PM and drive to Mysore. Is the Coonoor-Ooty-Mudumalai-Bandipur route open in the nights?

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by Ice

I'm planning to leave Coimbatore around 8 PM and drive to Mysore. Is the Coonoor-Ooty-Mudumalai-Bandipur route open in the nights?

No,it is closed from 9pm to 6am.

[nkrishnap]

Originally Posted by Ice

I'm planning to leave Coimbatore around 8 PM and drive to Mysore. Is the Coonoor-Ooty-Mudumalai-Bandipur route open in the nights?

The Madhumalai and the Bandipur route is close from 9pm to 6 am. On an alternative, you could try the Coimbatore - Satyamangalam - Chamarajanagar - Najangud - Mysore Route which has no night restriction.

[Ice]

Originally Posted by nkrishnap

The Madhumalai and the Bandipur route is close from 9pm to 6 am. On an alternative, you could try the Coimbatore - Satyamangalam - Chamarajanagar - Najangud - Mysore Route which has no night restriction.

Thanks! How is the road? Is it safe at night?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Ice

Thanks! How is the road? Is it safe at night?

Dimbam section has 20+ hairpin bends. So you need to be careful about that.

[nkrishnap]

Originally Posted by Ice

Thanks! How is the road? Is it safe at night?

It is quite safe at night as there would be truck traffic movement. So no risk involved.

Originally Posted by ampere

Dimbam section has 20+ hairpin bends. So you need to be careful about that.

Hairpin bends + traffic jam in case a truck breaks down at the hairpin bends. Other than this, the route is far better than the boring Salem route.

[nilanjanray]

The road will be desolate but not more than the closed Bandipur route. Same precautions apply regarding not stopping in lonely stretches, being on the lookout for elephants etc. I remember there were a couple of sharp curves near Chamrajanagar. Sharp as in a sudden bend after a long straight stretch that encourages one to speed.

[Ice]

Thank you all for your inputs. I just completed the trip. Left Coimbatore at 6.15 AM, and went by Sathi--> Bannari --> Dimbam --> Chamrajnagar --> Koligal --> Kanakpura --> Bangalore. My plans changed at the last moment, and the Mysore trip was called off. I reached Bangalore at 11.45 AM at the end of a non-stop run.

The trip was very smooth, and traffic was acceptable. The usual rules of engagement on a dual carriageway aside, I was able to maintain a brisk pace, never exceeding 110 kmph. I faced a traffic jam at hairpin # 24/27, with four trucks vying for the same patch of road. The Innova performed splendidly with the Pete's kit, and I estimate a 11.5-12 kmpl return. And I spotted a wild boar!

[pushkark]

Mods if a thread for this exists please merge with it.

I am planning a week long trip to Bandipur - Ooty - wayanad in Second week of October.

Will be landing in Bangalore on Tuesday/ Wednesday morning. I plan to drive to Bandipur on the same day, followed by Ooty - Wayanad - Mysore - Bangalore

My few queries are:

1. What time I would be reaching Bandipur if I start from 10 am from Bangalore Airport on a week day? Can I get the 4 pm safari at the park?
2. Any good resorts to stay at Wayanad? friendly for an infant.
3. Good hotel for a night stay at Mysore on way back from Wayanad. Plan to visit Vrindavan garden there for the light show.
4. Driving time from Mysore to Bangalore Airport?
5. Any additional tips and information for self drive rentals from zoom car.

Please help.
Thanks a lot in advance.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by pushkark

Will be landing in Bangalore on Tuesday/ Wednesday morning. I plan to drive to Bandipur on the same day, followed by Ooty - Wayanad - Mysore - Bangalore

My few queries are:

1. What time I would be reaching Bandipur if I start from 10 am from Bangalore Airport on a week day? Can I get the 4 pm safari at the park?
2. Any good resorts to stay at Wayanad? friendly for an infant.
3. Good hotel for a night stay at Mysore on way back from Wayanad. Plan to visit Vrindavan garden there for the light show.
4. Driving time from Mysore to Bangalore Airport?

1. You will have to negotiate Bangalore city traffic and even getting to NICE Road from the Airport will be a similar situation so just drive through the city and get onto Mysore Road. Give yourself about 5-6 hours from Bangalore Airport to get to Bandipur. It may be touch and go for the 4pm safari.
2. Vythiri resorts, Rain Country resorts are couple of them, plenty of resorts in Wayanad, being a long weekend do check availability. Check the other thread on recommended places to stay.
3. Mysore has several hotels, I remember seeing recommendations for Mango Suites. There is also a Misty Rock hotel in Gundlupet on the highway itself opposite the Coffee Day outlet, do check that. Location is very convenient but no idea how their rooms are.
4. Mysore to Bangalore Airport will also depend on the time of the drive. Typically, early morning starts by 5am will take about 3 hours to reach Bangalore and then another 1 hour or so to the airport, estimate about 5 hours. Peak hours will mean you negotiate Bangalore traffic when entering from Mysore Road and again when going to Airport.

[pushkark]

Mod Note : There are several spelling & grammatical errors in your posts. This negatively affects the forum experience for other readers.

Kindly ensure that you proof-read your posts prior to submission. Also, it would be a good idea to use spell-checkers.

[NPV]

I thought you were looking for a place to stay overnight on your way back from Wayanad hence suggested Misty Rock is an option since it is in Gundlupet much before Mysore.
If you do plan to visit Brindavan gardens (KRS Dam) and maybe other places in Mysore you will be better off staying in the City.
AFAIK, Mango suites is inside the city, do look that up. Hotel Siddartha, Regalis, Sandesh the Prince are some other good hotels in Mysore.